Fire-fighting apparatus.



A. C. PARRAND.

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909.

Patented Dec. 9, 1918.

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FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909 Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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UNITED sT TEs PATENT orrion.

ALBERT o. FARRAND, or ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, AssIeNon or ONE-HALF 'ro FRANK c. STOVER,,0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-FIGHTING ArrAnATUs.

Speclfleatlon of Letters Patent.

*Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ausnn'r G. FARRAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Atlantic City, Atlantic county, New Jerse have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Fighting A )paratus, of which the followingis a speci cation.

My invention relates to fire fighting apparatus, and the object of my invention is to provide a self-propelled apparatus of novel construction which shall constitute in itself a complete structure capable of being propelled to a fire; carrying pumps which may be operated bymechanism, also carried by the apparatus, and thrown into action after the vehicle has stopped; having means for furnishinglight when desired; carrying a full equipment of hose and chemical ap paratus, and, in general, having means for supplying all of the desired functions for the purpose designated.

- buildings on fire,

The advantages of a self-propelled fire fighting apparatus in saving space usually occupied when horse-propelled apparatus are employed 1s "very great, and among the saving may be mentioned two teams of horses; two drivers; one stoker, four sets of harness; stable room; room for hay, feed and bedding; room in engine house, as two of the self-propelled engines, fully equipped, can be placed in the space now occupied by a steamerand hose wagon; and room taken up for coal storage and manure pits. Another advantage is the obviating of all ob jectionable odors so. common at present in and about engine houses. A still further advantage isthe absence of smoke and cinder nuisance while in service at fires; thereby avoiding all danger of setting adjacent a condition that might readily occur by reason of live coals discharged from the stack of the ordinary fire engine.

My invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 5' Figure l, is a side elevation of the improved fire fighting apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, is a front elevation of to heat up.

turn furnishing power to drive a motor;

.such motor. serving to propeLthe vehicle when going to a fire and to furnish power for driving a centrifugal, turbine or other suitable form of pump when the tire is reached. In addition the dynamo is de- 6o signed to furnish current for side and rear lights on the apparatus while going to fires, and for working lights around engine while in service at fires; to furnish current for an electric brake or brakes; to furnish current for a storage battery floating in circuit with dynamo, to be used for sparking device or to boost on extreme heavy loads; to furnish current for a portable search light, such light being employed as a head light when going to fires; (a reel with cable long enough to reach from fire to place where engine goes into service, being used to convey current to such search light when working fires,) and to furnish current for a motor driven air compressor; such air to be used for air brakes, for an air whistle as an alarm while engine is going to fire, and for signals while in service at fires. I also employ an elastic relief valve to shut off power when the hose '30 nozzle shut oil; an alarm bell being in circuit with said valve operated mechanisn'i to notify engineer that power has been out. oft. The apparatus forming the subject of my invention is designed to go direct to a fire. If conditions are such that the chief thinks that the chemical apparatus will besufii cient, it can be used, it they are not, the hose of the chemical apparatus can be readily detachod and the main service hose can he led back from fire to the source of water supply and the pumping mechanism put into service. The advantage of this can be readily. seen by comparison with combii'nition wag ons in useatthe present time which go direct to the fire and'put the chemical appuratus into service. If this is not suilloient. these wagons have to go to the sourceof water supply and then lead service hose back to fire, a condition that necessitates the inaking oftwo trips. Another advantage of my improved apparatus is its great flexibility. As the explosion engine is working at full speed at all times, it will ha vs the benefit of full compression; and in consequence will 103 work to better advantage and be less liable On good roads, the engine canbe run at a high rate of speed, either forward or back by using series wound motors, and when up grades or poor roads were reached full power may be exerted on driving wheels without-slackening the speed of hamdlegand much less liable to burst when high'pressure is used, or nozzle is shut off. In extreme cold weather suction can be taken from source of water supply and the pump may be used as a fan to blow water from the hose so it will not freeze.

To arrest movement of the motor when it is desired to stop the vehicle, I provide an electric brake which consists of a disk mounted on the end of the motor shaft and serving-as an armature. This disk rotates in a stationary field, and current is taken-from the dynamo through proper resistance when the controller is reversed.

The carriage or truck which I employ as the carrying medium for my improved fire fighting apparatus is of novel construction, and comprises a pair of platforms 1 and 2; the lower platform 2 being hung on suitable springs 3 at the front and rear of the vehicle suitably supported by the running gear which includes the front and rear wheels 4, preferably mounted in pairs, as

' shown. The platform 1 is suitably supported above the platform 2, by means of trusses 5, and such means serves to hold the platforms in rigid relationship. The entire operating mechanism for the apparatus is mounted upon or carried by the lower platform' 2, while the upper platform provides space for the carriage of hose and chemical apparatus; the'tanks of the latter being mounted as usual adjacent the seat of the dri er Y My improved fire fighting apparatus is self-propelled; that is to say. it carries means whereby movement may be imparted to the traction wheels to drive the same. Such means comprises aprime mover, in the-present instance an explosion engine 6,

-of suitable. type. which may heprovided with as many cylinders as desired. This engine has a fly wheel 8 of the usual type, and

coupled to the shaft 9 of said fly wheel is a dynamo 10 driven by the said explosion enginc. and such dynamo is suitably connected to drive a motor 11' which in turn serves to drive the vehicle when going to or from a fire, and to operate pumping mechanism 12,

which may be of any suitable type, although- I prefer a centrifugal pump, when at the fire.

For the purpose of d riviug the vehicle, i provide a shaft .15 carrying suitable gearing for engagement with the usual difierontial gears disposed Within the casing 17. The shaft 18 of this gearing drives the rear wheels of the vehicle by means of chains 20 passing over sprocket wheels 21 and 22. The transmitting, shaft 15 for this mechanism is suspended from the lowe'r platform 2 of the structure and carries a sprocketwheel 23 driven by means of a chain belt 24: from a sprocket wheel 25 on a shaft 26, driven by the motor; a clutch 27 being provided to hold said. sprocket wheel 25 in operative engagement with said motor shaft. For the purpose of actuating such clutch I provide a lever 28 pivoted at 29- and having a yoke 30 which engages the hub of the sprocket wheel ;\a suitable catch 3O being employed for engagement with a notched sector 31.

it the rear of the platform 2 suitable pumping mechanism 12 is mounted, preferably a centrifugal or rotary pump, connected to the motor shaft 26 so as to be driven by the motor 11; the pump having the usual suction hose 32 connected to the outlet 33 at its rear end, which hose may be carried when not in use on suitable brackets 34 on the side of the apparatus. The operation of the pump is controlled by a rheostat 35, disposed adjaccnt the service hose connection 33, shown as covered by a suitable cap. There are two of these service hoseconnections and there may be two rheostats, independently operable. The m0 tor is' independently driven by current generated by the dynamo, and is provided with a suitable electric brake whereby its movement can be controlled and, in cases of necessity, stopped. This brake comprises a disk 36 mounted on the end of the motor shaft and rotating therewith in a stationary field 37, and currentis supplied to this field when the controller is reversed.

An air controlled brake 38 is provided for engagement with the transmission shaft 15. Air to operate this brake is supplied from a suitable cylinder 39 which is, in turn, supplied from a reservoir 40. For the purpose of supplying this reservoir, I may provide an air compressor 41 mounted adjzujent Said rescrvoii'and driven from an independent motor shown in the drawings as inclcsed in 1 a casing :12. if desired, the air tank 40 may be filled from compression end of explosion engine.

he explosion engine may be provided with the usual radiator 6* mounted in front of the same, and the usual starting means are employed for said engine. Fuel tanks 43 may be mounted at the front of the vehicle, and the hubs of the front wheels are preferably provided with brakes 4.4 which may be operated by means of a. foot lever 45. The vehicle is also provided with an electric search light 16, and the steering wheel 47 has a controller handle 4-8 for operating the electric brake and the propelling motor. This :conl'roller handle may be removable and may be employed to operate the rheostat 35 to start the pump when the apparatus reaches the fire. Connected to the con troller handle is a catch 49 designed to render the electric brake normally inactive.

A rheostat for controlling the brake and propelling motor is disposed on the foot board of the vehicle, and is indicated at 50; a diagram of this shown in Fig. 4c. In the diagram, a, b, c, d, e, f and 9, represent motor points; it, 2', Z and m, brake points; a and 0 brake leads, and p and 0 motor leads. I provide a controller for the air brake which is shown at 51, and at 52 a gage for air brake is shown. A reversing lever for the driving mechanism of the vehicle is shown at 55, and this may be of usual or ordinary construction.

The tanks containing water for the chemical solution are shown at 56 and are preferably disposed beneath the drivers seat. These tanks will be provided with suitably valved pipe connections, and hose attachments whereby they may be utilized in the usual manner.

The upper portion of the structure car ies a basket 57 for chemical hose; such basket being mounted directly behind the drivers seat, while the mainportion of the service hose, indicated at 59, is carried by the'platform 1 behind the drivers seat.

An air whistle G0 supplied by air from the air reservoir 40 may be emploved, and a bell 61 mounted at the rear of the vehicle may also he provided. Extension ladders are carried by the sides of the vehicle, being indicated at 62. The vehicle .is provided with the electric searchor head-light (3, which may be removed from its position on the vehicle and used as a portable search light at a fire, and for this purpose wire cable is required, indicated at (H, which is carried by a reel 65.

Extra suction hose may be desirable for use with the apparatus, and this is shown at 66, being carried by side brackets 67. The box for the service hose is preferably provided with perforated sides, as shown at 68.

The Wheels of the vehicle are provided with suitable mud guards 69 and 70, and between the same the side running board 71 is placed. This running board serves also as an anchorage for the pivotal connection for the air brake lover. I provide a suction strainer 72, which may be disposed at the forward end of the side runmng board. I also provide a running board 73 at the rear of the apparatus, and upon this running hoard hand fire extinguishers 74 are carried. The service hose will be provided with suitrheostat being clearly usual front side lights indiconnections 33 which valves act to stop the motor when flow from the nozzle is cut oif forany reason; details of which are shown in Fig. 5. In this view, a balanced valve is shown at S"), which is held in its normal position by means of a spring 81, the tension of which is adjusted by a suitable screw 82. The valve controls the position of lever 83, having a section insulated by the joint 84 and connected to a point switch 85; wires 86 and 87 leading said switch which has in its circuit a bell 88, so that when flow through a hose or nozzle attached to a service hose connection shuts off for any reason, the arm 83 will be moved into position to close the circuit,

stopping notify theengmeer. when a centrifugal 'take water from a course,

be used.

I claim:

A self-contained fire fighting apparatus comprising a body, running gear therefor. upper and lower the motor-and ringing the bell to For pruning the pump, pump 18 employed to well or natural water and supporting the lower platform, an internal combustion engine carried at the forward part of said body and formin a prime mover, a dynamo directly driven t motor driven by said dynamo, a centrifugal pump carried at the rear of said body, means whereby said pump may be directly driven by the motor, gearing operatively connected with a portion of the running the apparatus may he propelled, a shaft opcrativcly connected to said gearing. and means disposed between the dynamo and motor whereby the latter may drive said shaft, said means being cut'out of action 105 when the pump is being operated, all of said mechanism being supported by the lower platform of said structure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 110 two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT C. FARRAN D.

\\"itnesses: I

\Viu. E. Snore, Jos. H. KLEIN.

usual light 76; the vehicle also 60 from the motor to 75 the water in the chemical tanks may platforms carried by said 90 body; the running-gear being connected to iereby, a

gear whereby .00 

